Removable container cover and retainer

ABSTRACT

An easily removed retainer ring for cylindrical container of the sort used to contain paints, chemicals, and other substances has a cylindrical opening with an upper edge. The container may be a plastic bucket or a metal can. The cover is a solid plastic or metal disc with an annular ring attached to the periphery thereof providing an annular cavity which fits over the edge of the container and downwardly beyond the outside of the edge. The retainer ring is an open ring also with an annular cavity formed by a solid band on the inside and an interrupted band on the outside which provides a plurality of the usual flaps or lips but the ring has a weaker point where the ends are welded or otherwise attached thereby providing a quick breakaway for the removal of the ring. A conventional closing tool bends the tabs around the outside of the cover and upwardly against the side of the can. The retainer ring is removed simply by inserting a screwdriver in the tab near the weaker junction and rotating the screwdriver. The weaker junction could be made by scoring a solid band rather than a weld.

United States Patent [1 1 Grotnes [451 Feb. 19, 1974 REMOVABLE CONTAINER COVER AND RETAINER 22 Filed: Mar.27, 1972 21 Appl.No.:238,408

Primary ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or FirmPatrick F. Henry [5 7] ABSTRACT An easily removed retainer ring for cylindrical container of the sort used to contain paints, chemicals, and other substances has a cylindrical opening with an upper edge. The container may be a plastic bucket or a metal can. The cover is a solid plastic or metal disc with an annular ring attached to the periphery thereof 7 providing an annular cavity which fits over the edge of the container and downwardly beyond the outside of the edge. The retainer ring is an open ring also with an annular cavity formed by a solid band on the inside and an interrupted band on the outside which provides a plurality of the usual flaps or lips but the ring has a weaker point where the ends are welded or otherwise attached thereby providing a quick breakaway for the removal of the ring. A conventional closing tool bends the tabs around the outside of the cover and upwardly against the side of the can. The retainer ring is removed simply by inserting a screwdriver in the tab near the weaker junction and rotating the screwdriver. The weaker junction could be made by scoring a solid band rather than a weld.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures REMOVABLE CONTAINER COVER AND RETAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION having portions bent to hold the cover on the container. Separate cover and retainer ring for containers.

2. Description of the Prior Art There is a prior can closure ring similar to this one in that it has a breakaway portion but no lips and the ring is not long enough to allow a standard closure tool to be used and being solid the metal bunches up on closing thereby giving a poor closure and appearance. Another prior container cover is manufactured with a plurality of lips each having an opening therein and a multiple r plural closing tool is placed over the cover and operated to bend the lips up against the can. Without the use of special tools it is sometimes difficult to remove the lid and a number of the tabs have to be bent outwardly before the cover can be removed. Also, it is not possible to provide metal closing tabs on a plastic cover and this requires the use of a substantially complete metal cover instead of plastic. There is a demand for a lighter weight and less expensive cover which will be made from plastic and similar materials. The conventional closing arrangement mentioned above would not be suitable for this purpose. The present device provides a simple closure retainer ring with a frangible portion whereby the ring is easily placed and closed with a standard tool to present a better closure and appearance and readily broken for removal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By using a'light'weight metal ring with a frangible por-.

tion over a lightweight plastic cover it is possible to close and cover a can with conventional closure tools and to open same by simple manipulation of a screwdriver.

A main advantage of this invention is that it can be closed with a standard tool to give a better closure.

An object of this invention is to provide a means for sealing and retaining a cover on a can and for closing same with conventional closing tools, including those tools previously used for metal lids and covers, to provide a better closure in both function and appearance.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lightweight closure ring with a frangible portion that is easily broken with a common tool such as'a screwdriver.

Another advantage of this invention is found in the arrangement which makes it possible to use lightweight and inexpensive plastic covers and lightweight and less expensive metal rings with conventional closing tools and not requiring any special tool at all for opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the can closure assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical section view of one edge of the container assembled with the closure of FIG. 1 and illustrating in dotted linesa conventional closing tool in position.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the same edge shown in FIG. 2 after the closure tool is rotated to ultimate position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. I after closing as shown in FIGS. 2'and 3 and illustrating in dotted lines the use of a screwdriver to open the retainer ring.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar toFIG. 4 after the frangible portion of the ring has been broken.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The complete assembly and organization of the can 10, the lid or cover 12 and the retainer ring 14 is referred to in the drawings generally and overall by reference numeral 16.

A typical container 10 of a cylindrical formation includes an upper rolled edge 18 which provides an upper peripheral edge having a downturned outer portion 20. This is conventional and common can construction which may be constructed of metal or plastic for typical containers used to contain paints, chemicals, insecticides, detergents, industrial chemicals and the like.

The lid or cover 12 comprises a flat cover 22 of plastic, steel or other material which is a circular disc hav-' ing attached thereto around the peripheral edge or constructed integrally therewith, as by forming in one operation, an annular edge 24 which extends upwardly fits over the edge 18 in themanner shown in FIGS. 2

and 3. This locates the entire lid 12 firmly in place over the edge 18.

The retainer 14 in the form shown in the present drawings in an annular ring constructed from lightweight metal having an annular inside portion 30 extending across to an annular outside portion 32 which has been formed into a series of metal tabs 34 and one or more of which may be provided with an opening 36. At one point and locationon the retainer ring 14 there is a frangible or breakaway portion 38 which may be a weak weld where the two ends of the ring were joined or can be made after the ring has been constructed by scoring or otherwise weakening this point.

The lid or cover 12 is assembled as mentioned previously on top of the edge 20 of the can 10 and then the retainer ring 14 is inserted thereon since there is a com plementary cavityin the ring 14 which fits over the annular edge 24 of the lid 22. In cross section the relationship of the can 10, the lid or cover 12 and the retainer ring 14 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this position of assembly a conventional closing tool such as that sold by Atlanta Grotnes Machine Company is positioned over and on top of the lid or cover.l2 in the manner shown in FIG. 2 and this closing tool is designated generally by reference numeral 40 includes a plurality of clinching devices in the form of levers 42 having beaks 44 which upon actuation of a common handle not shown) are moved into position from the dotted lines in FIG. 2 to the dotted lines in FIG. 3 to clinch each of the metal tabs around the periphery and around the annular edge 24 of the lid 12 and against the side of the can 10 in the manner shown in FIG. 3. The cover 22 has thereby been securely tightened on top of the can 10.

A principle feature of the present invention is found in the ease of opening the cover 12 without destroying or damaging the cover 12 so at least it is repositionable on the can. As seen in FIG. 4, any implement such as a common screwdriver 46 may be inserted in the openings 36 closest to the frangible portion 38 and turned or twisted in the manner shown in the arrow of FIG. 4 to break the ring 14 along frangible portion 38 in the manner shown in FIG. 5. The lid 12 has not broken and is still in place on top of the can and can be repositioned on the can during use to prevent dirt and trash from getting into the contents or could even be reclosed with another retainer ring 14, if desired.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention together with a suggested form and operation thereof this is by way of illustration only and does not constitute any sort of limitation since there are various alterations, changes, deviations, eliminations, amendments, additions, revisions, omissions and departures which may be made from the embodiment shown without avoiding the scope of my invention as defined only by a proper interpretation of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combined closure arrangement and container comprising:

a. a cylindrical container having a continuous, outwardly projecting upper edge around a container opening,

b. a solid lid removably positioned on said container,

said lid having a flat solid portion covering the top of said container and having a continuous edge with a cavity therein fitted over and continuously around the edge of the container to cover the opening therein,

c. a continuous, removable retainer ring having a cavity therein fitted over the continuous edge of the lid, said retainer ring having a plurality of closely spaced depending tabs thereon bent upwardly around the edge of the lid and under the bottom of the edge of the container said ring having a separable portion which may be separated to open said ring for removal.

2. The device in claim 1: said separable portion being frangible.

3. The device claimed in claim 2 wherein said retainer ring has an opening to receive a screwdriver or other implement for the purpose of twisting same to break said frangible portion.

4. The device in claim 1: said separable portion being a weak connection.

5. The device in claim 4: said separable portion being a weak weld.

6. The device in claim 4: said separable'portion being weakened by scoring. 

1. A combined closure arrangement and container comprising: a. a cylindrical container having a continuous, outwardly projecting upper edge around a container opening, b. a solid lid removably positioned on said container, said lid having a flat solid portion covering the top of said container and having a continuous edge with a cavity therein fitted over and continuously around the edge of the container to cover the opening therein, c. a continuous, removable retainer ring having a cavity therein fitted over the continuous edge of the lid, said retainer ring having a plurality of closely spaced depending tabs thereon bent upwardly around the edge of the lid and under the bottom of the edge of the container , said ring having a separable portion which may be separated to open said ring for removal.
 2. The device in claim 1: said separable portion being frangible.
 3. The device claimed in claim 2 wherein said retainer ring has an opening to receive a screwdriver or other implement for the purpose of twisting same to break said frangible portion.
 4. The device in claim 1: said separable portion being a weak connection.
 5. The device in claim 4: said separable portion being a weak weld.
 6. The device in claim 4: said separable portion being weakened by scoring. 